Widespread rain brings cheer to paddy farmers in delta dists

According to Kakkarai R Sukumaran, Orathanadu region received good rain on Tuesday morning. “This rain will be of great help to the paddy nursery raised for transplantation. The showers will help farmers of tail-end areas to raise samba nursery, who are yet to begin the work due to non-availability of water.”

According to the agriculture department officials of Thanjavur district, the samba transplantation was being carried out in 30,000 hectares and the nursery is ready for the rest of the area. A target of 1.05 lakh hectares has been fixed for the district. “The samba transplantation has been in full swing for the last two days and major areas will be covered before October 15,” the official expressed confidence.

Meanwhile, many places in Tiruvarur district also experienced rain on Tuesday morning. The samba crop cultivated under direct sowing method would be benefited by the showers on Tuesday.

 Around 70,000 hectares in the district have been brought under direct sowing method. “The rain dissolves the atmospheric nitrogen and enriches the soil and crop,” said PS Masilamani, the state deputy secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association from Tiruvarur.

Similarly, a moderate shower was witnessed in Tiruchy and Karur. 

“This will be a boost to the standing crops in the region and give a breather to them which were suffering from sweltering heat for the past couple of days,” said P Viswanathan, farmers’ association leader.

However, the rain has affected the harvest of Kuruvai in Thanjavur district. According to officials, Kuruvai in 15,000 hectares in Thanjavur was ready for harvest and the rain has taken a toll on the works. Had there been no rain for another week, farmers would have completed their harvest and commenced the Thalady cultivation officials added.